Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1524591
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 JULY 2024 3 THEATRE HAVE you ever wanted to explore the magnificent interior of one of the world's oldest working thea- tres? Or maybe you want to learn about Malta's strong theatrical history? Well, get ready to expe- rience Teatru Manoel like never before! Starting this Tuesday 30th July, you are welcome to the per- formance-tour hybrid 'The Grand Tour of Teatru Manoel', which combines education and enter- tainment in one exciting event that teaches guests all about this magnificent Baroque theatre in the heart of Valletta. Led by actor and tour guide Jeremy Grech, 'The Grand Tour of Teatru Manoel' will allow you to learn historical facts that you might not find in your average his- tory book. Grech, who's a partner of the local tour company House of Tours, combines his theatrical skills with his certification in tour guiding to create compelling, in- teractive, and informative tours that really immerse guests in the time and space that they are ex- ploring. At Teatru Manoel you'll get to explore this baroque gem that dates all the way back to the time of the Knights, being built by Grand Master Antonio Manoel de Vilhena in the year 1731. "Theatourism is a process in which the tour guide dresses up as a character from a specif- ic time period pertaining to the story/venue and does the histor- ical tour in character," explains Grech. For 'The Grand Tour of Teatru Manoel', Jeremy has cre- ated an original character called Mr Baroque, who he describes as his "craziest character yet". From learning about the various names the theatre has gone by over the centuries, to exploring hand-sewn costumes from the theatre's over 10,000-piece costume collection full of intricate beaded details, tak- ing in the gorgeous trompe l'oeil and chandelier on the auditori- um's theatre, there is so much to discover at Teatru Manoel. Previous tours of Teatru Manoel led by Jeremy Grech have received high praise, with one guest saying "It was a great experience, I highly recommend it to both locals and foreigners. A very good perform- er who gives you a detailed in- sight into the historical buildings around the Maltese islands", and another saying it was a "fantastic look into the history and premises of the Baroque gem that is Teat- ru Manoel. Our tour guide led the way through less-seen parts of the building while recounting the story of the birth and subsequent life of the theatre, in a very knowl- edgeable, engaging and entertain- ing manner." Jeremy will take you on an ex- citing journey through time, and even explain to you his favourite aspects of the theatre, including the building's impressive endur- ance, "From the Knights to the French to the British to now…it has ceased to go down. Not even the War could touch it", and the Latin phrase 'ad honestam populi oblectatione'. You'll have to vis- it the tour to find out what that means! This is the perfect tour for people looking to learn more about the theatre, those looking for an entertaining hour of fun, and those looking to escape the summer heat. Running every Tuesday starting from the 30th of July, 'The Grand Tour of Teatru Manoel' will take place at 10:30 am and 12:00 noon during the summer months, whilst the theatre's normal weekly visits will continue to run alongside the Grand Tour as usual. However, the impressive costumes and even some historic theatre props will only be on display for the next few weeks, so catch it while you can! 'The Grand Tour of Teatru Ma- noel' welcomes groups of up to 30 people per tour, with tickets costing €20 per person. For more information and to book your tick- ets, visit www.teatrumanoel.mt or call the Teatru Manoel Box Office at (+356) 21246389. Discover Teatru Manoel's exciting history and exquisite interior with an entertaining Grand Tour of this Baroque Gem Above, and below: Photos by Mitchell Camilleri